I apologize in advance for the continuation of this disturbing topic, but I feel that I must reply. I promise it will become clearer in a moment. Also please do not misunderstand, this is not a specific response to one poster but a general reply to a very dangerous concept brought up by a poster.
Voltaire wrote:
You are missing the point, like so many others. Text on a screen cannot physically harm anyone, it's just words. Emails can be blocked/deleted, forums can be ignored; it really makes me wonder about the mental state of people who take the internet and mobile phone texting so seriously that they need to hide themselves away in a panic room or commit suicide. I was taught that sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never harm me. Is anyone throwing stones on the net? is anyone shooting through cameras like guns? No. The internet is a cyber world, a playground, and is not real. Therefore, if you feel offended by any comment or text message or email, walk away. There are more things in life than computers and mobile phones; it's a pity the younger generation hasn't woken up to this fact. If they did, then they might feel better.
Voltaire, you are indeed correct - word are harmless. Just like a drop of water, Right? Please try a little experiment for me. Lay on a flat table, over the table suspend a hose or large bag. Set the bag or hose dripping at about one drop per second. Now lay perfectly still for several hours.
Here's the thing, a drop of water will never hurt or kill you but after twenty minutes your skin under where the drops are falling will burn. After several hours the skin will begin to break down causing bruising and deeper tissue damage. Over the course of several days those innocuous little drops of harmless water can actually kill. It is the same with words, a single insult can wash off like a little drop of water - but when these drops, these words, come one after the other in quick succession over a sustained period it can cause deep psychological harm turning an otherwise healthy person into an "unbalanced" person who is capable of suicide.
Again you are correct - emails can be deleted and forums avoided. But again you are also incorrect. Once the 'Water Torture' has begun it does not require water anymore. After an hour remove the bag or hose and have someone press firmly on the same spot - the damage caused to the tissues will continue. What does this mean, well even if you don't read but delete an email the fact it has come will be like another drop, even though you don't visit a forum knowing that the person will still be posting things on there (probably about the same topic) will be like another drop. Once you start the cycle it is very hard to break. So if someone has been subjected to bullying or aggressive behaviour elsewhere and come here and are subjected to more of the same, without knowing it those posting are re-enforcing a very dangerous and harmful cycle that should be broken as soon as possible.
But here is the paradoxical thing about it - take away the bag or hose and the person pressing on the same spot and the tissue damage will still continue! The body will need to destroy and reassimilate the damaged tissue so that it able to replace it. Although many people would like to think so, the working of the mind is not that dissimilar to the body. One must “go through hell” and “keep going” (Churchill) before they can return to a healthy frame of mind. Insults, accusations, words basically, are like the drops of water on the skin. One, two, three or so are harmless but when those words are constant no matter the angle or source it will cause harm. One word/drop will wash off, hundreds will cause harm, thousands WILL kill.
To say that text/words cannot harm is to underestimate not only the power of words but the collective effects of those words. How many times in human history have great speeches polarised a nation into single purpose during war (Churchill), rallied people to civil rights causes (Martin Luther King), reduced men to tears (Vest) or changed a countries view of itself (Lincoln). Yet when these speeches are transcribed do they lose their power? No. The same applies to word designed to tear down an individual, spoken or text these words still have great power.
To address the main discussion of this post, should people be wrapped in cotton wool or exposed to the hard truths of life - the answer is both. There are two ways to teach someone that the saw will cut their hands off if they misuse it, A) show them the right way and wrong way to use it, demonstrate safely the potential safety issues and allow them to master it in a controlled manner, or B) cut their hand off. I know this is an over simplification of the situation when it comes to these sort of issues but it rather nicely illustrates the point. When it comes to delivering a hard truth one does not need to cut off the hand looking for comfort to teach a lesson.
25 Sep 2008, 6:21 am
Let's just say I'm not very amused either.... 
I was just thinking "How can you live with yourself?"
